Buckethead The Bear Freed After Jar Removal

After a three day pursuit, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service, with assistance from the Maryland Natural Resources Police, successfully tranquilized a 100-pound male black bear cub to remove a plastic jar that was stuck around its head.

The rescued cub, affectionately known as “Buckethead,” was freed near the Wisp Resort in McHenry during the annual Autumn Glory Festival.

“The crowd was very happy to see the cub safely handled and reunited with the sow and another cub,” Wildlife and Heritage ServiceDirector Paul Peditto said. “Our response staff did an outstanding job dealing with this very public situation, and handled it in a most professional and responsible manner.”

After the plastic prison was removed, the healthy cub returned to the woods to reunite with its sow.